Tag: UFC Vegas 102

Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal In The Works For UFC Fight Night On Feb. 15

Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period. After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze. […]

Veteran UFC featherweight contender Calvin Kattar will need to defend his spot in the rankings this year following a difficult period.

After a battering at the hands of Max Holloway, Kattar (23-8) kept his name close to the title picture in 2022 by being on the opposite end of a destructive display against Giga Chikadze.

But “The Boston Finisher” hasn’t had his hand raised since. He fell on the wrong side of a contentious split decision against Josh Emmett, lost to Arnold Allen after tearing his ACL mid-fight, and most recently failed to spoil Aljamain Sterling’s featherweight debut at UFC 300.

With that losing skid in mind, Kattar will unsurprisingly be fighting down the pecking order in 2025. And should plans come to fruition, that’ll seemingly be against the charging Youssef Zalal (16-5-1).

The fight was announced by Zalal during an appearance on the JAXXON Podcast.

Zalal exited the UFC in 2022 after going 0-3-1 across a four-fight run, in which he lost to Ilia Topuria, Seungwoo Choi, and Sean Woodson. But since working his way back with three wins on the regional scene, he’s been unstoppable.

The 28-year-old Moroccan went 3-0 under the UFC banner in 2024, submitting Billy Quarantillo, Jarno Errens, and Jack Shore to earn a shot at the rankings and the featherweight top 10.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at the UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
  • Edson Barboza vs. Steve Garcia (featherweight)
  • Calvin Kattar vs. Youssef Zalal (featherweight)
  • Yuneisy Duben vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov (lightweight)
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
  • Billy Ray Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)
  • Dylan Budka vs. Edmen Shahbazyan (middleweight)
  • Vince Morales vs. Elijah Smith (bantamweight)
  • Jesus Aguilar vs. Rafael Estevam (lightweight)
  • Don’Tale Mayes vs. Valter Walker (heavyweight)
  • Kaue Fernandes vs. Jared Gordon (lightweight)

Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event. Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at […]

High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event.

Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at 185 pounds.

A controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov and decision defeat in a Fight of the Night with Caio Borralho has seen “The Killa Gorilla” go 0-2 in 2024. Having fallen to his first losing skid as a middleweight, the #8-ranked Cannonier is in need of a rebound performance next year to maintain his spot inside the top 10.

And per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that’ll come in a fifth consecutive main event for the 40-year-old, this time opposite a first-time headliner in Gregory Rodrigues (16-5) at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15.

Rodrigues has gained a reputation as an all-action fighter at 185 pounds since debuting following LFA championship success three years ago.

While losses to Armen Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira stalled his rise, “Robocop” is currently on his best UFC run to date, having won three straight over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
  • Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
  • Jacob Malkoun vs. Rodolfo Vieira (middleweight)
  • Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
  • Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)

Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues In The Works For UFC Fight Night Main Event On Feb. 15

High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event. Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at […]

High-profile fights are beginning to come together for 2025, and the latest report places longtime middleweight contender Jared Cannonier in another UFC Fight Night main event.

Cannonier (17-8), who sits alongside Conor McGregor as one of two fighters to have recorded knockout victories in three different weight classes, has slipped down the pecking order at 185 pounds.

A controversial stoppage loss to Nassourdine Imavov and decision defeat in a Fight of the Night with Caio Borralho has seen “The Killa Gorilla” go 0-2 in 2024. Having fallen to his first losing skid as a middleweight, the #8-ranked Cannonier is in need of a rebound performance next year to maintain his spot inside the top 10.

And per MMA Mania’s Alex Behunin, that’ll come in a fifth consecutive main event for the 40-year-old, this time opposite a first-time headliner in Gregory Rodrigues (16-5) at the Apex-held UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15.

Rodrigues has gained a reputation as an all-action fighter at 185 pounds since debuting following LFA championship success three years ago.

While losses to Armen Petrosyan and Brunno Ferreira stalled his rise, “Robocop” is currently on his best UFC run to date, having won three straight over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan.

With this addition, the current fights expected to take place at UFC Fight Night on Feb. 15 are as follows:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues (middleweight main event)
  • Gabriel Bonfim vs. Rinat Fakhretdinov (welterweight)
  • Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice (women’s flyweight)
  • Jacob Malkoun vs. Rodolfo Vieira (middleweight)
  • Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti (women’s bantamweight)
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews (featherweight)
  • Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov (welterweight)

‘Robocop’ Books First UFC Main Event Against Jared Cannonier on February 15

'Robocop' Books First UFC Main Event Against Jared Cannonier‘Robocop’ has booked his first UFC headliner. According to a report from Alex Behunin of MMAMania.com, streaking Brazilian standout…

'Robocop' Books First UFC Main Event Against Jared Cannonier

‘Robocop’ has booked his first UFC headliner.

According to a report from Alex Behunin of MMAMania.com, streaking Brazilian standout Gregory Rodrigues will return to the Octagon on Saturday, February 15 for a showdown with No. 8 ranked middleweight contender Jared Cannonier. The event is expected to emanate from The APEX in Las Vegas.

Rodrigues goes into the bout riding a three-fight win streak with victories over Denis Tiuliulin, Brad Tavares, and Christian Leroy Duncan. Overall, ‘Robocop’ is 7-2 under the UFC banner with his lone losses coming against Arman Petrosyan and Bruno Ferreira. Five of Rodrigues’ seven wins have come inside the distance — all via knockout.

Robocop

Cannonier looks to snap two-fight skid against ‘robocop’

Meanwhile, Cannonier is coming off the first two-fight losing skid of his UFC run after coming up short against Nassourdine Imavov and Caio Borralho in his last two outings.

Before that, ‘Killa Gorilla’ had an impressive run that saw him win four out of five, including decisions over Kelvin Gastelum, former 185-pound titleholder Sean Strickland, and one-time UFC title challenger Marvin Vettori.

It will be Cannonier’s sixth straight UFC main event.

Robocop

Check out the card for UFC Vegas 102 thus far:

  • Jared Cannonier vs. Gregory Rodrigues
  • Rinat Fakhretdinov vs. Gabriel Bonfim
  • Julia Avila vs. Jacqueline Cavalcanti
  • Rodolfo Vieira vs. Jacob Malkoun
  • Ismael Bonfim vs. Nazim Sadykhov
  • Juliana Miller vs. Carli Judice
  • Jose Delgado vs. Connor Matthews
  • Billy Goff vs. Nikolay Veretennikov